School Start Time Activity by State

Here are some recent start time changes and proposals that have come to our attention. See also the more detailed and inclusive list of schools recently delaying start times on Dennis Nolan's excellent school start times website.

For schools that have succeeded in finding ways to run class at safe and healthy hours, see SUCCESS STORIES.

Here are schools planning to shift middle and/or high school start times later for the 2017-18 school year that have come to our attention:Alabama: Huntsville City SchooolsAlaska: Kenai Peninsula Borough SchoolsCalifornia: Half Moon Bay High School; Novato UnifiedColorado: Cherry Creek middle and high schools; Greely-Evans School Disrict 6Connecticut: Greenwich; NewtownGeorgia: Valdosta City SchoolsIllinois: Arlington; Barrington; District 181; District 214; District 103Indiana: ZionsvilleOhio: Indian HillMaine: South Portland High School; Five Town Community School District (middle and high school)Maryland: Anne Arundel County (13-15 minutes later)Massachusetts: Ashland; Concord-Carlisle; MonomoyMichigan: Ann Arbor Public Schools (optional class start of 8:30 a.m.)Minnesota: RichfieldNew Hampshire: Oyster River Cooperative School District; Portsmouth (middle and high school)Oregon: Lake Oswego Pennsylvania: Quaker Valley (15 mins. later - pilot program); Unionville-Chadds FordSouth Carolina: Oconee CountyTennessee: the McCallie School (Chattanooga); Williamson CountyTexas: Texas City ISD Utah: LoganVirginia: Chesterfield CountyWashington: Bellingham; Issaquah; Northshore School District

The discussion of school start times is occurring all over the United States. Some school districts, like Indianapolis, IN and Wilton, CT are leading the charge in making student sleep needs a priority when setting school schedules.

Other districts are grappling with an earlier start time or deciding to shift to earlier starts as a way to cut costs.To include the activity going on in your state, please fill out the form to the right.We will update this page with any relevant activity as it becomes known to us.

Contact Us

Alabama

Huntsville CityHigh school starts moved from 8 to 8:30 am in August 2017, not only relieving traffic but giving teens a better shot at sleep. Students can still be dropped off as ealry as 7:30 if the later start time poses a problem for families. (8/11/17)

Phenix CitySending the early grades to school 45 minutes earlier and middle and high school students an hour and 15 minutes later starting in fall 2014, Superintendent Wilkes says the later start time for older students is an effort to increase student success.

Alaska

AnchorageAnchorage school administrators is studying school start times, which could result in a later school day for older students or a more innovative school schedule.Currently, Anchorage high school students start their days at 7:30 a.m., followed by middle school students at 8:15 a.m. and a majority of elementary school students at 9 a.m. Matthew Park, an incoming sophomore at West High School, would like to see the district's high school start times pushed back to 8:30 a.m. He started an online petition last month that had gotten more than 4,700 signatures by Wednesday. (8/10/17)

Arizona

CottonwoodMingus Union High School District has moved it start time to 8:40am beginning during the 2011-2012 school year.

Arkansas

California

Albany UnifiedPiloting a shift to later high school bell times in 2014, considering elimination of middle school zero hour. (2014)

Bear Valley Unified School District​Discussing the possibility of delaying high school start time. (11/26/16)

El CentroCentral Union High School District considering moving start times 30 minutes later at 2 high schools in 2013-14 so students can get more sleep.

FreemontStudent wellness task force is focusing specifically on sleep deprivation, how it affects students’ well being and what can be done to combat the effects, which could include starting school later in the day. (3/14/17)

Folsom-Cordova Unified School Districtis preparing to study whether starting high school classes later would make senese. (2/18/15)is preparing to study whether starting high school classes later would make senese. (2/18/15)

Half Moon BayA new block schedule is being implemented in tandem with a shift toward later start times. At Half Moon Bay High School, parents, teachers and administrators formed a health and wellness committee to promote starting classes later in the morning, to allow students more time to sleep. Recent research and medical findings have found that increased sleep for adolescents can correlate with better attendance and school performance.One result of the health and wellness committee’s efforts was this year’s delayed start time for zero period. In the upcoming year, the school will do away with zero period altogether and implement two start time options for students: one beginning usually at 8 a.m., and the other beginning around 9 or 9:40 a.m. on most days. Classes won’t end any later than 3:30 p.m., though, to accommodate student-athletes with practice or games after school, and students with jobs.

Marin CountyMarin County's two largest school districts are both looking at starting classes later in the morning to help students get more sleep. At San Rafael High School some students start as early as 7:05 a.m., although most arrive around 8 a.m. (10/19/16)

MonumentDiscussing the possibility of delaying high school start times to match the sleep needs of adolescents. (5/4/17)

​Moraga Middle SchoolWaving goodbye to a 48-year tradition, the Moraga School District's middle school will shift in Fall 2016 to an 8:30 a.m. starting time. The 40-minute change to the bell schedule will have students dismissed at 3 p.m.; seventh-grade students taking Z period will finish their days at 3:49 p.m.

Nevada CountyMost high school students in Nevada County are used to an early wake-up call on school days, often catching the bus or hopping in the car as dawn breaks to be in their seats when the first bell rings at 7:30 a.m. But Nevada Joint Union High School District officials are considering moving that first bell back to 8:30 a.m. (4/11/15) - though not without delays (2-19-16)

Novato UnifiedDistrict has opened a community conversation on how to maximize the learning conditions of students. They plan to collaborate as a community to look at interests and options on a possible later start for our secondary schools. The district is studying its schedules to see if it might be possible to start middle and high schools at, 8:30 or 9 a.m.) (10/17/16) In April 2017 voted to begin first period at Novato and San Marin HS 8 a.m (a 30-45 minute pushback) (4/27/17)

Ojai ValleyLater start time committee studying the possibility of later middle and high school start times and preparing to report findings to school board. (11/16/17)

San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD)The Board is passionate about ensuring that students get some extra sleep, as research consistently indicates that teens need more sleep due to their circadian rhythms, and that a later start supports academic success and emotional wellness. In December 2016, the trustees considered an action item to direct schools to have later start times. (12/16)

Ukiah Unified School DistrictIn the 2016-17 school year, Ukiah High School moved its opening time 45 minutes later to 8:15 a.m. to give students more time to sleep in the morning.

VacavilleConsidering moving schools later across the board and by as much as 50 minutes for high schools (which currently start at 6:50 a.m. for A period). (4/23/16) Board voted 9/22/17 to start elementary schools no more than 15 minutes earlier than the current schedule, middle schools will start at 9 a.m., and the two main high schools, Vacaville and Wood, will start at 8:40 a.m. Buckingham Charter High will start at 8:30 a.m, Country High, the district’s continuation school, will start at 9 a.m. Changes will take effect in the 2018-19 school year. (9/22/17)

Cherry CreekStart times for high schools pushed back 65 minutes in school year 2017-18. Start times for high schools pushed back 65 minutes, middle schools will start an hour to 50 minutes later, and elementary schools begin 65 minutes earlier. (Elementary schools run 8am-2:45pm; middle schools 8:50 am-3:45pm; high schools 8:201m-3:30pm.) This change was budget-neutral.​Cortez-Montezuma SchoolsHS to start at 9 am instead of 7:30 am in 2012-13 school year.

EvergreenAfter more than a year of conversations with parents and community members in Evergreen, Jeffco Public Schools is considering moving back school start times — both at mountain area schools and across the rest of the school district. (11/21/17)

Greeley-Evans School District 6Beginning in August 2017, District 6 will move to a later start time for high schools, no earlier than 8 a.m. While this isn't perfect, it is a huge improvement and I believe it will help more of our students be successful. We will also shift our middle school students to an earlier start time — 8:30 a.m. versus the current 9 a.m. — and dismiss them earlier so they aren't walking home in the dark during winter. And our youngest students, who tend to be early risers anyway, will start school at 7:50 a.m., giving many of their parents time to see them off before they have to go to work. (4/7/17)

Grand JunctionDistrict 51 is looking for ways to start high school later to give teens more sleep and possibly save money. (2/4/16)

LittletonConsidering flipping high school and elementary school start times to allow teens a chance for healthier sleep. (3/10/17) In September 2017, announced two scenarios, one that would jump the high school start time from its current 7:20 to 8:30 a.m. A second more modest option would ring the first bell at 8:05 a.m. (9/27/17)

LovelandThompson School District is considering later school start times for middle and high schools, based on national trend and sleep research. (10/07/17) An added benefit would be to give teachers more planning time before school (10/31/17)

Mesa County (District 51)​Looking into ways to start middle and high school later. (7/26/16)

Connecticut

GreenwichStart School Later Greenwich chapter. On 9/22/16 Board voted 5:3 to change start times beginning int he 2017018 school year. High school will begin at 8:30 a.m., middle school at 8 a.m., and all elementaries will remain unchanged except two that will begin at 9 a.m.

NaugatuckThe Board of Education has created a special committee to examine the possibility of starting school later for middle and high school students, which may impact the start times for all schools. (10/18/16)

New CanaanDistrict looking at the possibility of moving bell times later in light of decisions to do so in other Connecticut districts (8/21/17). Working group formed to consider impact on entire school "ecosystem." (9/6/17)

NewtownSchool start time committee looked at research backing change and options to address school start times as a public health issue (5/5/17) Delaying middle and high school bell times to 8 a.m. without changing elementary schools and without additional costs, beginning in school year 2017-18. (6/28/17)

NorwalkEvaluating delaying high school start times to improve the health and educational achievement of students, aiming at a pilot program for 2018-2019.

RidgefieldStart School Later Chapter. The Board of Education agreed in October 2017 to change school start times to better align with student sleep schedules for the 2019-20 school year, including a possible plan that would save transportation costs, but said the specifics of how to do so will take more work. (10/24/17)

SimsburyLooking at moving to later high school start times than current 7:30 for 2019-20. (10/30/17)

WiltonWon State Championships the same year later start was implemented (2003).

Delaware

Cape HenlopenFollowing a decision to change start times to allow teens more sleep, the district decided to keep current schedules and perhaps keep looking for a better solution. (3/11/16) Then in October 2016 it voted to make the high school start even earlier, at 7:40 a.m.! (10/15/16)

District of Columbia

Florida

FL chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics issue position statement: all schools should start after 8 am

Hernando CountyProposal to change start times by up to 90 minutes, with high schools moving even earlier (7:05 am starts) & middle schools 95 minutes later, starting at 9:15 and ending at 4:15 p.m. or 4:25 p.m.

Hillsborough CountyBeginning in 2018-19, high schools move to 8:30 a.m. start times and end at 3:25 p.m, Most elementary schools will run from 7:40 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., and middle schools from 9:25 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. (10/17/17)

Hillsmere CountyTo save about $2.7 million a year on bus costs, the district is proposing that traditional high school students to report to their first class at 7:15 a.m. — 18 minutes earlier than this year — which runs counter to studies about teenage sleep patterns. (4/5/17)

Leon CountyAs a first step toward later high school start times for all, the Board of Education voted to give all high school students the option of skipping first period and staying late to make it up. (2/23/16)

Monroe CountySchool board is looking at the possibility of starting high schools later (current start time is 7:30 a.m.), perhaps by flipping schedules with elementary schools. (1/10/17)

Osceola CountyDistrict was proposing changing school start times: High school classes that started as early as 7:00am 15 minutes later except at Osceola HS, which will join the other high schools in the same tier. Middle schools being pushed back to 9:15 a.m. (4/10/16). However, they board chose not to adopt this revised schedule even though it would have saved $420,000 in bus routes and drivers. (4/23/16)

Pasco CountyMoving start times at one of its high school from a 7:30 a.m. to an 8:50 a.m. start time because the principal is putting in a new program - the change has NOTHING to do with sleep or health, so it was just done. Families were not consulted and are now being told "deal with it." (4/5/17)

Georgia

Cartersville CityIf approved for 2018-19, the start times for the city’s four schools and pre-K program would be divided into two tiers, with Tier 1 schools — pre-K, primary and elementary — starting at 7:30 a.m. and Tier 2 schools — middle and high — beginning at 8:30 a.m. The proposed ending times would be staggered — 2 p.m. for pre-K, 2:20 p.m. for primary, 2:30 p.m. for elementary, 3:30 p.m. for middle and 3:45 p.m. for high. Currently, pre-K starts at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m.; primary starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m.; elementary starts at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.; middle starts at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m.; and high starts at 7:53 a.m. and ends at 3:22 p.m.Decatur Changing HS Start from 8am to 8:30 am in 2012-13

Forsyth CountyA student started a petition in January 2017 to delay bell times to 8:30-9 a.m.

MariettaCommunity input is being sought on allowing students to begin their Marietta school days 30 to 40 minutes later each day but ending at the same time. (3/24/16) Survey shows strong support for later middle and high school start times, although current proposal would only start them at 7:45 a.m. (4/17/16)

SavannahA two year experiment (through 2016) to measure outcome of moving 11 of its high schools to later bell times led to data that showed worsened behavioral and academic outcomes in the first year according to school officials (1/16/16) Many high schools will return to 7:30 am bell times in the fall of 2016. (8/1/16)

Valdosta City SchoolsStarting in 2018, the school hours changed for all levels, primarily to give middle and high school students more time to sleep and study. Elementary schools now start earlier in the day, and middle and high school students start later. (8/8/17)

Hawaii

Idaho

MeridianTo save money on buses, this district will starts its high schools ten minutes earlier (at 7:35 a.m.) starting in the fall of 2014, while starting middle schools a full half hour later (8:35 a.m.) and elementaries at 9:10 a.m.

Twin FallsAfter deciding to start high schools later based on sleep research, decision was made to move middle schools 13 minutes earlier, to 7:30 a.m. bell times. (5/29/16)

Illinois

Arlington HeightsPlan to push high school start times back about an hour starting in 2017-18 school year. (5/9/16)

BarringtonStarting in the 2017-18 school year, Barrington High School students will begin their day at 8:30 a.m., 70 minutes later than they do now, and end the day at 3:21 p.m. Middle school students will start more than an hour later, beginning their day at 9 a.m. and ending it at 3:55 p.m.Elementary students will attend classes from 8 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. Currently, elementary students begin the day at 9 a.m. (11/9/16)

Buffalo Grove - District 214Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 in Buffalo Grove pushed back the start time at Aptakisic Junior High in August 2016. Junior high students now start their day at 8 a.m., 20 minutes later than they did in prior years. Under a two-year pilot program approved unanimously by the board, the school day will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 3:10 p.m. at Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, John Hersey and Prospect high schools starting with the 2017-2018 school year. To make the changes, the district is eliminating late starts on Thursdays, shortening class periods to 48 minutes from 50 minutes, and shortening lunch periods to 45 or 48 minutes from 50 minutes. (1/6/17)

ChicagoMagnet school wants to move 8:30 am opening even later to save money on buses.

Elk Grove - District 214Under a two-year pilot program approved unanimously by the board, the school day will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 3:10 p.m. at Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, John Hersey and Prospect high schools starting with the 2017-2018 school year. To make the changes, the district is eliminating late starts on Thursdays, shortening class periods to 48 minutes from 50 minutes, and shortening lunch periods to 45 or 48 minutes from 50 minutes. (1/6/17) However, to save money, a plan is being considered to shift middle schools even earlier, from 7:45 a.m. to 7:25 a.m. (12/6/17)

Freeport School District 145Superintendent asks community how they feel above switching elementary and middle/high school start times. (10/07/17)

Granite CityPushing up middle school bell times from 9 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. beginning in the 2017-18 school year for no clear reason. Meanwhile, the high school will continue to open at 8 a.m. (5/2/17)

Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills (District 181)Middle school students will begin the day at 8:25 a.m. and be dismissed at 3:15 p.m. starting in fall 2017. This year they start school at 7:55 a.m. and are finished at 2:45 p.m. There will be no change for the district's seven elementary schools, which are in session from 8:40 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. (3/14/17) No immediate changes planned for Hinsdale High School (10/13/17)

John Hersey High School - District 214Under a two-year pilot program approved unanimously by the board, the school day will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 3:10 p.m. at Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, John Hersey and Prospect high schools starting with the 2017-2018 school year. To make the changes, the district is eliminating late starts on Thursdays, shortening class periods to 48 minutes from 50 minutes, and shortening lunch periods to 45 or 48 minutes from 50 minutes. (1/6/17)

Libertyville District 128Moved by health experts who say teens benefit from more sleep, District 128 officials may change the daily start times at Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High. A task force studying the issue hopes to have a recommendation for new bell schedules ahead of the 2018-19 school year. All task force members favor later start times in general. (10/24/17)​Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103Investigating options for changing school start times for 2017-18 (1/20/16). Changes approved for Stevenson High School for 2016-17 change. (May 2016) Starting in the 2017-18 school year, Sprague (elementary) students will begin class at 8:15 a.m., 45 minutes earlier than they do now. Daniel Wright (middle school) students will start 40 minutes later, beginning their school day at 8:30 a.m. (12/14/16)

Lyons Township High School District 204Preliminary talk of the value of starting high school later. (10/13/17)

NapervilleCommunity survey shows a high level of support for delaying middle and high school start to 8:30 a.m. (11/17/16)

PeoriaParental backlash apparently burst the trial balloon the district sent up about adopting a three-tiered bell schedule. Under the proposed bell schedule, the primary school day would be 7:20 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.; middle schools, 9:10 a.m. to 4:10 p.m.; and high schools, 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. But no changes will occur until at least 2018. (4/4/17) Then over the summer of 2017 staff developed a plan to ease some of the overcrowding at the Glen Oak Community Learning Center, a problem that teachers say exacerbates the school’s problems with discipline and safety, hampering its ability to attract substitute teachers when needed. Under the plan, all students in the upper grade levels would have attended from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as the former K-6 school continues its gradual move to K-8 grades. Hours would have remained 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for younger students. The plan then evolved so that the 10:30 a.m. starting time will be open to about 40 students, or two classes, in August, with the potential to increase in the second semester. The decision to attend during the later starting and dismissal time is up to parents and children. (7/12/17) In November 2017, the district proposed starting high school a half hour later, allowing teachers to meet before school in professional learning communities--thereby saving money and requiring the employment of fewer teachers. (11/28/17)

Prospect High School - District 214Under a two-year pilot program approved unanimously by the board, the school day will begin at 8:15 a.m. and conclude at 3:10 p.m. at Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, John Hersey and Prospect high schools starting with the 2017-2018 school year. To make the changes, the district is eliminating late starts on Thursdays, shortening class periods to 48 minutes from 50 minutes, and shortening lunch periods to 45 or 48 minutes from 50 minutes. (1/6/17)

Vernon HIlls - District 128​Moved by health experts who say teens benefit from more sleep, District 128 officials may change the daily start times at Libertyville High School and Vernon Hills High. A task force studying the issue hopes to have a recommendation for new bell schedules ahead of the 2018-19 school year. All task force members favor later start times in general. (10/24/17)

Indiana

Avon High School"I think the research is very plain. The older the student, the later you should start school," said Rick Adcock, Avon High School principal.

Cathedral High School - Principal Dave Worland initiated a 30 minute delay in school start times in 2013 to give teens more sleep. He stated, "It's not about the adults, it's about the kids."

Center GroveCommunity discussions continue, but plans to move bell times to meet health recommendations on hold until parent survey data shows that the community wants to change. (2/21/17)

IndianapolisA proposed new bus schedule to reduce transportation costs called for high school classes to begin at 7:20 a.m. and elementary classes to start between 8:15 a.m. and 9:05 a.m. Currently, bell schedules in IPS schools vary widely, but most high schools start at 7:30 a.m. and most elementary schools start after 9 am. (One notable exception is Shortridge High School, which offers an international baccalaureate magnet program and starts at 9:10 a.m.) However, with research increasingly pointing to health and academic benefits for teens who are able to sleep later, some Indianapolis Public Schools board members are calling on the district to explore the possibility of starting high school later in the morning. (8/4/16). This discussion was still going on in May 2017.

Monroe County Community School CorporationThe final three scenarios would start in the 2016-17 school year and were met with mixed views from the school board, but ultimately, Superintendent Judy DeMuth will decide how the district will move forward.DeMuth outlined her priorities, saying the first was student safety, the second was shortening the elementary day length, next was making every day of school start and end at the same time, and last was starting school later for middle and high school students. (2/10/16) The school day for the Monroe County Community School Corp. in 2016-17 will be 30 minutes shorter for elementary students and start 20 minutes later for secondary school learners. The local Start School Later chapter will continue to work for even later secondary school start times. (2/24/16)

Northwestern Consolidated School DistrictWith an emphasis on addressing adolescent sleep deprivation, the Northwestern Consolidated School District Board of Trustees began deliberations Wednesday night about moving school start times for the 2015-16 school year. (3/12/15)

Perry TownshipThe 18 schools in Perry Township will start at different times in 2017-18. HIgh schools will start even earlier,, running from 7:15 (vs. 7:25) a.m.until 2:05 p.m. (2/14/17)

South Bend For the third time in as many years, South Bend school officials want to shift the district’s school days to give teenagers more sleep and younger children more time in the classroom. In 2015 and 2016, the plan stalled amid concerns about the South Bend Community School Corp.’s busing routes and some questions about how later days for middle and high school students could affect sports and other extracurricular activities.But this time, the moves would come as part of the corporation’s sweeping new “Focus 2018” strategic plan, which officials hope could help avoid some of the logistical snags that stopped the idea in the past. As part of the new plan, elementary, middle and high schools would move to a staggered daily schedule. Elementary students would start classes 15 minutes earlier, at 8 a.m. High schools would start 8:30 a.m. — 45 minutes later than their current morning bell. And middle schools, which also currently start at 7:45 a.m., would shift an hour and 15 minutes later, to 9 a.m. (11/26/17)

Valparaiso Community SchoolsLate start one a day week implemented to improve teacher planning time and exemplified coordination of efforts with before care services

WabashWabash City High planned to start @ 8:35 AM in 2014-2015, 50 min later than current 7:45 AM start time for Wabash HS & MS.

Warrick CountyConsidering later start times based on CDC findings about teen sleep deprivation and risky behaviors. (4/19/16)

Iowa Cityhe Iowa City Community School Board voted 7-0 to start elementary school at 7:55 a.m. and start junior high and high school at 8:50 a.m. This means elementary school will end at 2:55 p.m. while secondary school will end at 4 p.m. beginning in Fall 2016. (2/10/16)

Kansas

Emporia Unified School District #253A proposed start time of 8 a.m. with dismissal between 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. is being considered, with some board members advocating 8:30 am starts. (4/23/15)

Currently, Emporia High School students start classes at 7:48 a.m. The proposed 8 a.m. start time would only be 12 minutes later.

WichitaThe morning school bell will ring 10 minutes earlier for Wichita students in fall 2017 to save about $3 million on transportation, utilities and other costs. Northeast Magnet High School and several magnet middle schools will start at 6:50 a.m. Most secondary and K-8 schools will start at 7:50 a.m., and elementary schools will begin at 8:50 a.m. (6/5/17)

Kentucky

Fayette CountyTeen driver crash rates reduced by 16.5% in 2 years after school start time delayed by one hour while the rest of the state saw an increase in teen crash rates.Jessamine CountyCut down on "passing time" and saved on bus expenses

Maine

BiddefordCiting a desire to give students a better chance to learn, the school committees of Biddeford, Saco and Dayton plus Thornton Academy agreed Wednesday to push back the start times for middle and high school students to 8:30 a.m. or later.Middle and high school students in those towns now start school between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. The change will begin with the fall semester. (4/7/16)

BrunswickThe School Board is investigating the benefits and challenges of later school start times after survey data indicated a community-wide interest in the idea. (12/15/16)

Cape ElizabethSchool Board is collecting data as part of a process to consider changing of start times at Pond Cove Elementary School, Cape Elizabeth Middle School and Cape Elizabeth High School to better accomodate student sleep needs. (11/3/17)

DaytonCiting a desire to give students a better chance to learn, the school committees of Biddeford, Saco and Dayton plus Thornton Academy agreed Wednesday to push back the start times for middle and high school students to 8:30 a.m. or later.Middle and high school students in those towns now start school between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. The change will begin with the fall semester. (4/7/16)

Five Town Community School DistrictNew schedule approved for the 2017-2018 school year will see students at the middle school and high school arriving at school a half hour later, at 8 a.m., rather than 7:30 a.m. At the April 5 meeting Superintendent Maria Libby said that these times represent when the last school buses arrive at school; the school day officially begins 10 minutes later with homeroom class. Students at the elementary school will begin their day 15 minutes later, at 8:45 a.m. rather than 8:30 a.m. Under this plan the middle and high school academic day will end at 2:45 p.m., and the length of the day remains the same. Although elementary students will start 15 minutes later, their school day will end 30 minutes later. ​The Five Town CSD represents Camden Hills Regional High School, which is attended by students from Camden, Rockport, Lincolnville, Hope and Appleton. SAD 28 includes CRMS and CRES.(4/6/17)

KitterySchool committee is looking into the possibility of later high school start times given the national trend toward ensuring hours that allow for healthy sleep. (1/1/17)

Knox County (Midcoast - RSU 13)The superintendents from Regional School Unit 13, the Five-Town Community School District, and RSU 40 are discussing starting school later in the day for middle and high school students based on "compelling sleep research that indicates adolescents benefit from a later school start time." (12/6/16) Start School Later Chapter​Oxford HillsAware of success from later start times in other Maine districts, the superintendent prepared a report on the feasibility of delaying bell times to give students healthier sleep. (12/5/16) However, in June 2017, the school board tabled a decision to make any immediate changes. (6/6/17)

​Orchard Beach (RSU23)​At the RSU 23 School Board meeting June 16th, 2016, the Board unanimously voted to change school hours, based on the Start School Later initiative, such that preK-5 will run from 8-2:15 and grades 6-12 will run from 8:30-2:45. (6/20/16)

PortlandConsidering plan to start high schools even earlier (7:45 instead of 8 am) to extend school day. (2/24/15)

SacoStart School Later chapter. Citing a desire to give students a better chance to learn, the school committees of Biddeford, Saco and Dayton plus Thornton Academy agreed Wednesday to push back the start times for middle and high school students to 8:30 a.m. or later.Middle and high school students in those towns now start school between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. The change will begin with the fall semester. (4/7/16)

ScarboroughDistrict is looking for ways to start high school later. (1/27/17) The School Department is considering having the high school start at 8:50 a.m. – 75 minutes later than the current 7:35 a.m. start – while the middle school would start at 9 a.m. Elementary school start times would be 8 a.m. instead of the current start times of 8:50 a.m. for K-2 schools and 8:20 a.m. for Wentworth Intermediate. (3/9/17)

South BerwickSAD 35 has launched a committee to study the feasibility of a later start time for students at Marshwood High School. (11/17/16)

South PortlandStart School Later chapterSchool committee voted unanimously to move bell times later for middle and high school starting in 2017-18. High school will move from a 7:30-1:50pm bell schedule to 8:10-2:25pm, middle school from 7:55-2:15 to 8:30-2:45, and elementary school will move just five mintues later, from the current 9-3 to a new 9:05-3:05pm. (1/9/17)

WarrenA proposed change in the Five Town Community School District would move Camden Hills Regional High School and middle school start times to one hour later (8:30 a.m.) and Camden-Rockport Elementary School to start a half-hour earlier (8 a.m.), Five Town CSD and SAD 28 Superintendent Maria Libby said in a letter to parents this week. The length of the day would not change, so high school and middle school would get out an hour later and the elementary would get out a half-hour earlier. (2/1/17)

WinthropHas surveyed parents and formed a committee of stakeholders to consider the possibility of delyaing the 7:30 a.m. high school bell time. (4/8/17)

YarmouthAll schools scheduled to start 20 minutes later beginning in the 2016-17 school year, including high school starts of 8 a.m. (5/27/16)

Maryland

Anne Arundel County - Start School Later chapter & petition. Board of Education votes (after 20 years of effort) to move all school start and end times by 13 minutes starting in 2017-18. This brings the 7:17 a.m. high school bell time to 7:30 a.m.

Waldoboro Schools (RSU 40)After some debate, the district has no plans to change middle or high school start times, largely due to parental concerns about changing routines and additional bus costs. (4/5/17)

Massachusetts

AshlandSchool committee has voted to start grades 7-12 no earlier than 8:15 a.m. beginning in school year 2017-18. (3/23/16) In November 2016 they voted unanimously to start the high school at 8:20 a.m., a 50-minute change. The middle school will start school at 8:15 a.m., a 25-minute change. The high school day will end at 2:45 p.m. and the middle school day will end at 2:40 p.m. The Mindess School, on the other hand, will start earlier, at 7:55 a.m. (25-minute difference). The Warren School will start five minutes later, at 8:50 a.m. (11/9/17)

BarnstableExploring the possibility of moving high school start times later (12/4/14) Community hearings now being held about School Start Time Committee recommendation that all elementary schools maintain their current schedule, but Barnstable High would adjust times to 8:15-2:50.committee recommends later high school start time. (6/11//17)

BostonStart School Later chapter. City Council voted unanimously to support later start times. (Spring 2016) Almost all middle and high schools will be starting at 8 am or later starting in the 2018-19 school year. Elementary schools range between 7:15 and 9:30 am starts. Done with bus routing help from MIT engineers. (12/7/17)

Burlington​With leadership by School Superintenent Dr. Eric Conti, the district has approved the following changes to begin in school year 2018-19. High school will start at 8:35 a.m. and middle school will keep its start time of 7:35 a.m. Memorial will keep its start time of 8:10 a.m. and both Fox Hill and Pine Glen will switch from 8:35 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. Francis Wyman will start later, moving from 8:10 a.m. to 8:35 a.m. The high school will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. andthe middle school at 1:55 p.m. Memorial, Fox Hill and Pine Glen will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m. and Francis Wyman will be dismissed at 2:40 p.m.” (11/15/17)

DartmouthExploring a potential solution: later starts for the town's high school students, who have to be in class for 7:30 a.m. It was unclear if the middle school would be a part of the conversation as well. ​(11/10/16)

Dennis-YarmouthExploring the possibility of moving high school start times later (12/4/14)

Dover-SherbornIn response to a recent recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and in the interest of student wellness and achievement, the Superintendent of the Dover, Sherborn, and Dover­Sherborn Regional School Districts created a committee to research and explore school start time options, with an emphasis on later school start times for at least the middle and high school. (Updated 12/1/14)

East LongmeadowCommunity interest

EastonMiddle & high school will move to 7:55 a.m. starts - the latest by far in the region - beginning in 2016-17 school year. (4/12/16)

FalmouthExploring the possibility of moving high school start times later for 2017/18 (8/26/16)

MilfordDistrict is considering taking another look at ways to delay middle and high school start times, with superintendent saying it's a matter of "when," not "if." (10/9/17)

Monomoy Regional School DistrictBeginning with the new school year in the fall, classes at Chatham and Harwich elementary schools will begin at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:15 p.m. The middle and high schools will start start at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. (2/1/17)

NewtonMultiple options are being considered to alter bell times, ranging from high schools starting at 8 a.m., just 10 minutes later than Newton North’s current time, to starting as late as 9 a.m. (6/21/16)

North AndoverIn school year 2011-12, the superintendent proposed moving school start times were moved 20 minutes, to 7:43 a.m. In April 2016 the school committee raised the issue again, proposing another look at the feasibility of a change. (4/20/16)

NorwoodStart time subcommittee holding public hearings on possibility of later high school start times. (6/12/16) In June 2017 two school committee members vowed to continue their research over the summer and to conduct a survey in the fall. That information will then be used to propel the process with the assistance of a task force. (6/22/17) Next steps include creating surveys, forums in the winter, presenting to the School Committee in January 2018, and creating a task force. The later start times would be implemented for Fall 2019, at the earliest. (10/31/17)

PembrokeMany towns in Massachusetts, including Norwood, Westborough, Concord/Carlisle and Woburn, have looked at starting schools later in recent years. Pembroke, on the other hand, is doing the opposite.In the 2017/2018 school year, Pembroke High School and Community Middle School will start 10 minutes earlier, Bryantville Elementary School and Hobomock Elementary School will start 15 minutes earlier and North Pembroke Elementary School will start 20 minutes earlier. (6/28/17)

ReadingSuperintendent is considering a change to later start times for teens in 2017-18 (3/17/16)

WalpoleDelaying bell time for high school from 7:15 to 7:30 a.m. starting in the 2016-17 school year. "“We were one of the earliest [to start school] in the whole area and, to be honest, it was just mean,” principal Stephen Imbusch said of his push for the later time. “We haven’t gotten to the point where [a much later start time] is a serious discussion yet, but I did want to try to make it a little later, given all the research that’s out there about teenagers and their need for more sleep and sleeping later. (8/12/14)

WatertownThe Later Start Implementation Task Force recommended a new start time of 8:30 a.m. at both the Watertown High School and Watertown Middle School. In the new plan, the high school day would end at 3 p.m. and the middle school at 3:05 p.m. Currently, the high school starts at 7:55 a.m. and the middle school begins at 7:40 a.m. Under the proposed change, all three elementary schools would start at 8:15 a.m.--the same time Cunniff and Lowell currently start, and 15 minutes earlier than the current Hosmer start time--and end at 2:30 p.m. Another option for the elementary schools would push back their start time to 7:50 a.m. and close of day at 2:05 p.m. (6/26/17) Start School Later Chapter.

WestboroughStart School Later chapter working for change In April 2017 The Westborough School Start Time Subcommittee released a report and recommendation for the proposed changes to school start times in the district starting in fall 2018. The committee, co-chaired by Superintendent Amber Bock and former school committee member Ilyse Levine-Kanji, recommends that the Westborough High School and Gibbons Middle School schedules be flipped with the Mill Pond School schedule. This means that the school day for WHS and Gibbons would shift from 7:30 a.m. - 1:57 p.m. to 8:10 a.m. - 2:37 p.m. while Mill Pond would move from 8:08 a.m. - 2:25 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. - 2:02 p.m. 94/19/17)

Weston High SchoolSuperintendent Cheryl Maloney led the charge to shift start time from 7:30am to 8:00am by freeing up free slots during the middle of the day. “It’s not something that can be fixed by saying, well, they should be going to bed earlier,” Erica Cole, a high school assistant principal and a member of the start-time committee, said, adding that research shows students’ bodies and minds do not allow them to “power down” until a certain time. So far efforts have been thwarted by logistical complications. (Updated 12/1/14)

WilmingtonTalking with other area districts about ways to start schools later (3/15/16) and undertaking a study to determine feasibility (4/20/16)

Worcester​Community interest has led the school board to put together a committee to look at ways to delay secondary school start times. (12/5/16) In August 2017, members of the School Committee’s Standing Committee on Teaching, Learning and Student Supports agreed to form a panel that includes school officials and staff, parents and health experts to investigate the district’s options over the next few months, and present a recommendation back to the committee later in the year. (8/21/17)

Ewen-Trout Creek School DistrictJoined with other area districts Wednesday in approving a later school starting time for the 2016-'17 school year this fall. Students in grades sixth through 12th will have an advisory period in the morning from 8:35 a.m. to 8:52 a.m ., with classes to begin at 8:55 a.m. Elementary students will begin classes at 8:35 a.m. (4/23/16)

RedfordA plan to add 15 minutes to the instructional day at Beech Elementary next school year could result in a change in the start and end times at all Redford Union schools, including moving high school starts from 7:30 am to 7 am. (3/10/15)

SaginawDistrict leaders are considering switching from seven to six periods each day and starting a little later. (2/25/15)

Ypsilanti High school moving 35 minutes later to 8 a.m. starting in fall 2016-17 to improve learning at no additional cost (vote to do so in late July 2016), but the middle school and some elementary schools will start as early as 7 a.m. (7/26/16)

Minnesota

BuffaloMoved to later start times in the 2016-17 school year.​Burnsville-Eagan-SavageChanging start times for 2016-17, including a "later" 8 am start time for high schools based on sleep research (1/29/16)

Eden PrairieMounting grassroots effort to delay school start times (1/30/17)

Glencoe-Silver Lake (GSL)Citing research about benefits to sleep and health, the superintendent and other school leaders are proposing a 25-minute later start time for the 2017-18 school year. (1/11/17)

Inver Grove HeightsLooking at ways to start high school later to combat sleep deprivation in teenagers.

MahtomediThe high school and middle school currently run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; O.H. Anderson from 9:05 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.; and Wildwood from 9:15 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. District administration and board members have been researching the potential change and have developed five potential scenarios to delay middle and high school start times. Three scenarios involve flipping start times, according to district documents. In the first, secondary schools would run from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; O.H. Anderson 7:45 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.; and Wildwood 7:55 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The second would be 15 minutes earlier for each school and the third would be half an hour earlier for each school. Another scenario would involve compressing the times, which would cost the district about $330,000 for six additional bus routes. Secondary schools would run 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.; O.H. Anderson 7:35 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. and Wildwood 7:45 a.m. to 2:05 p.m. The fifth scenario would push back all start times. Secondary would run 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; O.H. Anderson 9:35 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. and Wildwood 9:45 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. (11/23/17)​MinneapolisReviewing bell times for 2015-16. (1/24/15)

Mounds ViewIn fall 2016, the board of education, with the support of a new superintendent, has been considering a delay to the 7:25 a.m. bell time beginning in the fall of 2017. In response to the feedback provided by the community, the Board directed the administration to develop school start times options for consideration and review at the November 15, 2016 school board meeting. The Board also announced a public Feedback Forum to gather community feedback about the options for later in the fall. (10/16) In August 2017 the district voted to start Mounds View and Irondale High Schools at 8:35 beginning in 2018.

Red WingProposal to move from 2-tier to 1-tier bus system, so schools for all ages start between 8:15 and 8:30 a.m.

Richfield​New school start times approved by the Richfield School Board Jan. 3 will give high school students an extra 20 minutes in the morning, and middle-schoolers an extra 30. The shift should allow students to better conform with their natural sleep cycles, said School Boardmember Peter Toensing, a pediatrician by day. Toensing cited numerous studies and reports in reaching that conclusion. (1/12/17)

RochesterStudents could get an extra hour of sleep in the morning, as soon as the 2019-20 school year because of a potential partnership between Rochester Public Schools and the city. A bus-sharing proposal would allow middle and high school students to take city buses to school, decreasing costs for RPS and boosting ridership for Rochester Public Transportation. It's a decision that would push back start times to between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. — just past RPT's peak ridership times. (10/27/17)

Hollis Brookline (HB Coop)Reviewing a student-led proposal to push back the start time of classes, based on research that says a later opening could be better for the mental and physical development of young adults. (5/23/16)

Fall Mountain School District​ School committee considering later school start based on sleep research. (11/23/17)

KeeneSLEEP in Keene Committee is working to push back high school start times (12/4/14). School committee considering later school start based on sleep research. (11/23/17)

Inter-Lakes School DistrictStarting in academic year 2017-18, schools in the Inter-Lakes School District will operate on a later schedule, reflecting recommendations from several studies on adolescent sleep.Classes at Inter-Lakes Elementary School, I-L Middle Tier, and I-L High School will run from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. under the new schedule. Sandwich Central School will operate from 7:55 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. The previous schedule had the elementary school operating from 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m., the middle tier from 8:20 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the high school from 7:20 a.m. to 2:08 p.m. Sandwich Central School ran from 8:05 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. (8/21/17)

Oyster River Cooperative School DistrictThe school board for the towns of Durham, Madbury, and Lee has approved a plan that would delay classes by about 40 minutes for middle and high schoolers, with a goal of giving students more time to sleep. As approved, the middle and high school day would run from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning in the fall of 2017 without a change to elementary school schedules.(11/3/16)

PlaistowOngoing community conversations about moving start times later at Timberlane Regional High School (3/14/16)

Portsmouth​Following sleep science guidelines for adolescents, the school board voted to start middle and high school later in the morning as 2017-18. The change will push back the middle and high school start times about an hour and synchronize the elementary school start times.Middle and high school students will start at about 8:30 a.m. next year, instead of 7:30 a.m. All three elementary schools will start at 8:20 a.m. (11/3016)

New Jersey

Burlington CitySuperintendent intends to delay middle and high school bell times to better coordinate with teen sleep needs. Beginning in September of 2018 the day's first session in 7th through 12th grades at the high school will start at 8 a.m., 20 minutes later than the current start time. In the third through sixth grades at the Wilbur Watts Intermediate School, students will start their day at 8:05 a.m., five minutes later than now. There will be no change in times at three elementary schools for preschoolers through second-graders. Their day begins at 8:25 a.m. Dismissal times at Burlington City High School aren't changing, even though classes will start later. Instead, the lunch period will be eight minutes shorter, and class periods will shorten from 55 to 53 minutes. (10/24/17)

Cherry Hill District proposes moving start time earlier to lengthen school day w/o impacting sports

Garden CityBoard to consider proposals for later hight school start time in May 2017. (5/5/17) However, concerns about cost and early middle school start times. (9/22/17)

Pemberton Township Delayed HS but advanced MS in 2011-12 and then moved HS even earlier the next year - done for sake of adding instructional time and fixing bus issues and without community buy-in.

PrincetonA "bell schedule committee” that is examining delaying the high school start time and other issues, calling for starting school later in the morning, providing “a mid-morning break” for students and rotating the daily schedule, with changes to begin in the 2018-19 school year. (5/18/17) Superintendent of Schools Stephen C. Cochrane, concerned about stressed out students not getting enough sleep, released a proposal to start classes at Princeton High School nearly an hour later for the upcoming academic year. (11/15/17)

Randolph TownshipAs a result of efforts by the school superintendent to align middle and high school schedules better with sleep research, the district voted in May 2015 to use a three-tier system beginning with the 2015-2016 school year. The school day at Randolph High School will begin at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. Randolph Middle School will run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., and the school day for students in all four elementary schools will begin at 9:10 a.m. and end at 3:55 p.m. However, supervision in the elementary schools will begin at 8:40 a.m. (5/29/15)

Tenafly The school district is in the process of developing a new bell schedule for Tenafly High School, including later start times, in the hopes of improving students' academic performance and mental health.(7/29/16)

Tom's River Regional SchoolsExploring options for pushing back the start times by approximately 30 minutes for some schools in the district for the 2016-17 school year (12/11/14)

New Mexico

AlbuquerqueProposals to start high school later back in 2010 were postponed, to be followed by proposals to start high school even earlier and an eventually decision to start five minutes earlier (5/23/15)

New York

Champlain (NCCS) Staggered start times proposed to save $ and help middle & HS students

CoxsackieCoxsackie School District is finalizing plans to begin 15 minutes later at all buildings starting in Feb 2015 citing medical evidence on sleep patterns supporting start times after 8:30 am. and saying it will give them extra time with teachers and more time for crews to plow snowy roads in the winter. (12/5/14)

NiskayunaSubcommittee has been created to study the logistics of starting high school later. (08/31/17)

OnteoraAt the request of the Onteora Board of Education, a committee of parents, administrators and staff is studying what it will take to put about 700 middle and high school students on a later schedule beginning next fall. The Kingston and Rondout Valley districts plan to begin similar discussions.

PittsfordBriefly considered moving 7:40 a.m. starts even earlier to 7:25 a.m., but nixed the idea a few weeks later. (5/9/16)

PotsdamPotsdam Central School officials says it will make a decision about a later school start time for fifth through 12th grade students in Spring 2018 in the hopes that it results in an improvement in academics, discipline and social issues. Likelyoptions are making a single bus run or switching the start times for middle and high school with the start time for youngsters. Students in high school begin class at 7:35 a.m. and middle school pupils start at 7:25 a.m. Chambers would like to see that start time pushed back somehow. Elementary students begin their day at 8:30 a.m. (11/4/17)

RomeAn educational development committee is looking at options related to school start times and their impact (on) student learning and success throughout the 2017-18 school year.” The research could involve whether it would be beneficial to have the high school schedule start later than elementary school. Rome Free Academy and Strough Middle School currently start at 7:30 a.m. and dismiss at 2 p.m., while elementary schools start at 9:10 a.m. and dismiss at 3:10 p.m. (11/6/17)​Saratoga SpringsBoard of Education voted unanimously to study the possibility of moving high school start times later (12/9/14). Start School Later chapter

SouthamptonSouthampton High School are revisitng the possibility of delaying high school bell times by 30 minutes Students would start the day at 8 a,m. Currently, high school students are expected to be in the building no later than 7:26 a.m., and a warning bell goes off before the start of first period at 7:31 a.m. (1/18/17)

WappingersWappingers Central School District is considering moving high schools 13 minutes later and changing junior high and elementary school hours by 20 minutes. (2/7/16)

North Carolina

Onslow CountyMoving all high school starts up to 7:15 am (early bell at 7 am) to make busing more efficient for 2014-15.

Wake County Middle Schools Landmark study determines boost in academic performance with later school starts. Even so, and despite parental outcry, high schools remain extremely early,drawing complaints from parents of children across the age spectrum. (4/1/17)

OlentangyDecided not to move 7:20 a.m. high school bell time, citing lack of sufficient evidence re: costs. (11/16/16)

OxfordTalawanda school board members recently decided not to make the switch to later school start times, but the discussion isn’t over yet in the district.

PickeringtonIn the 2016-17 school year, junior high school and high school students will swap start times so that high schoolers get a chance for a little extra sleep. High schoolers will start at 7:55 a.m. instead of 7:20 a.m. (8/13/16)

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Adams CountyOver the summer of 2016, administrators from six districts in Adams County — Bermudian Springs, Fairfield Area, Gettysburg Area, Conewago Valley, Littlestown Area and Upper Adams — discussed the issue of school start times, prompting officials to poll residents for input. Littlestown Area School District is considering later school start times for students as a part of a countywide discussion on the role of sleep in education. (10/11/16)

Athens Area School DistrictSuperintendent says later school start times may be a goal. (9/21/17) A volunteer "time committee" (composed of administrators, teachers, staff, parents and one School Board member) recommended in a report issued over the summer that the elementary schools begin school for students at 8:30 a.m. and end their day at 3 p.m., and that the high/middle school begin school for students at 9:30 a.m. and end their day at 4 p.m. (11/5/17)

Delaware County​Start School Later Chapter.

Dunmore School DistrictStarting in the fall of 2016, high school students will begin class at 7:40 a.m., 42 minutes earlier than the current start time of 8:22 a.m. The school day will end at 2:28 p.m. — 47 minutes earlier than the current year’s 3:15 p.m. dismissal time. Lunch periods are shortened from 47 minutes to 30 minutes. (4/21/16)

North Allegheny (NASD)Considering later high school start times. NASD begins at 7:25 a.m., middle school at 8:10 a.m. and elementary at 9 a.m. but is planning public meetings for feedback before making decisions, if any. Some possible options include delaying start times for all schools, flipping start times for high school and elementary students, or pushing start times back and condensing bus runs. (10/9/17)

Pittsburgh Local psychiatrists sign joint letter advocating later high school hours. 2012.

Quaker ValleyIn 2017-18 adjusted start times by 15 minutes, from 7:45 to 8 a.m., for both high and middle schools, as a one-year pilot study. (10/7/17)

Radford TownshipParents and students are urging the school board to start middle and high school later to allow for healthy sleep. (6/5/17)

State CollegeProposal to move elementary schools 30 minutes earlier and end 10 minutes later to add class time, while moving high schools 30 minutes later to give adolescents a chance for healthier sleep. (9/11/17) Board votes to continue developing proposal. (12/5/17)​Unionville-Chadds FordBoard voted to start and end high school and middle schools 25 minutes late beginning in school year 2017-18, and to start and end the elementary schools 15 minutes later. Middle school and high school would start at 8 a.m. and last until 2:43 p.m. (the current schedule is 7:35 a.m. to 2:18 p.m.). Elementary schools would start at 9:10 a.m. and last until 3:40 p.m. (the current schedule is 8:55 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.). (4/24/17)

WaynesboroCiting studies showing the benefits to student achievement and attendance in secondary schools with start times after 8:30 a.m., school officials surveyed community about starting all schools 30 minutes later. Middle- and high-school classes now start at 7:38 a.m., and elementary schools start at 8:50 a.m. (4/15/16). However, citing survey results, they then decided to keep the status quo. (4/28/16)

Middletown St. George's School's trial of delaying school by 30 minutes is so successful, the change is made permanent.

NewportIn school year 2016-17 Rogers High School changed its starting time this year from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. for a 2:45 p.m. dismissal; Thompson Middle School went from 8:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. for a 2:15 p.m. dismissal; and Pell Elementary went from 8:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m., for a 3:15 p.m. dismissal

WesterlyConsidering delaying the current 7:55am-1:55pm high school day as recommended by the AAP, CDC, and AMA. (7/17/16)

South Carolina

Beaufort CountySince May 2017, school board members have discussed the issue of school start times, which were changed district-wide in fall 2016 school year to be one hour later for middle and high school students and 45 minutes earlier for elementary school students.To appease parents of elementary school students, many who say a 7:45 a.m. is too early for young children to be learning, board members have requested more information from the district on ways to move the elementary school start time closer to 8 a.m.​Charleston CountyWidespread parental concern about too-early as well as too-late bell times for all ages. (4/28/15) In an attempt to fix some chronically late bus routes, the Charleston County School District announced new bell schedules for 48 of its 61 schools and programs, with an effort to avoid starting high schools too early but starting some elementaries over an hour earlier at 7:30 a.m. and some middle schools just past 7 a.m. (6/21/16)

Dorchester CountyDistrict 2 plans to move high schools from 7:25 am to 8:55 am starts beginning in 2015-16 school year w/minor changes to elementary & middle schools and at no cost (12/8/14)

Georgetown CountyGeorgetown County School Board Chairman Jim Dumm asked the district to look into starting classes at an hour or two later in the day - Fall 2013

Texas

Houston ISDConsidered moving all high schools to 8:45 am or later starts, in part to save $, in part because research supported the move (2012)

Seguin ISDThe district has opted to stagger school schedules starting in August 2016 in an effort to reduce lateness and first period absences. While all elementary schools will keep previous schedules, the middle school campuses — Barnes and Briesemeister — will have their school day between 8:10 a.m. and 3:40 p.m., while the high school will start at 8:25 and finish at 3:58 p.m. (8/20/16)

Texas City ISD​Starting in school year 2017-18, high schools will start at 8:35 a.m., 2 of 3 middle/intermediate schools will start at 8:25 a.m., and most elementary schools will start at 8 a.m. or close to 8 a.m.

Wichita Falls ISDConsidering flipping high school and elementary school start times. (2/7/16)

Utah

Davis School DistrictLooking at pros and cons of moving start times later to meet teen sleep needs. (5/15/15)

LoganPlan to move high school half an hour later to 8 a.m. starts beginning in the 2017-18 school year. (3/30/17)

Park CityPetition effort to start school later. (3/14/15) School Board has committed to studying the costs and logistical issues associated with such a change. It has set two parameters: That high school would start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 3:20 p.m. (3/26/17) In June 2017 PCSD's board voted unanimously to move to a 2-bell system for the 2018-2019 school year with PCHS to start as late as possible. Implementation task force to work with city government to work out traffic and transportation issues. (6/617) Start School Later Chapter.

Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU)Proposed school day schedule change for 2016-17 school year, the early release-late start professional development/educational improvement model, is intended to optimize the benefits of teachers’ professional development time. High school students will have a morning time adjustment because research shows that teens show academic, social, and emotional benefits from starting school later in the morning. (4/14/16)

Chesterfield CountyAfter over two decades of effort, the School Board voted unanimously to move high school bell times to 8:30 a.m. beginning in the 2017-18 school year. Middle schools will still start quite early, and elementary schools quite late, but the board says they will address these issues in the years to come. (2/14/17) The board agreed that the YMCA of Greater Richmond could use elementary and middle schools throughout the county for after-school programs. Currently, 650 county students participate in YMCA programs. (10/24/17)

Montgomery CountySchool Board working to find a way to move both middle and high schools later in the day (3/16/16) In April 2016, they voted unanimously on the new times Tuesday night for middle and high schools will start 8:05, about 20 minutes later than the current start time. Elementary schools will start 15 minutes later, beginning at 9:15.This is slated to take effect in August 2016. (4/5/16)Right now elementary school hours are 9:00 - 3:30, middle school hours are 7:40 - 2:25, and high school hours are 7:50 - 2:35.

RichmondRichmond Schools Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden says a later start time could not only help student performance but also save the schools money (1/22/15)

SouthhamptonThe Southampton Public School Board has discussed the possibility of starting the school day later beginning in 2015-16. (2/20/15)

Virginia BeachSchool community considering changing start times, including starting middle and high school later to align better with adolescent sleep needs and patterns. (6/7/17) In July 2017, however, they decided to defer the conversation for a year. Start School Later chapter.

CamasPlans to “flip flop” school start times, with older students starting school one hour later and younger students starting one hour earlier, beginning in the fall of 2018. Subject to minor adjustments based on bussing needs, starting in the fall of 2018, Camas elementary students will attend school from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Due to bus scheduling conflicts, Lacamas Lake Elementary School will begin at 8:15 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m. Older students will start and end their day one hour later, with all high schools and Odyssey Middle School starting at 8:40 a.m. and ending at 3:20 p.m., and Liberty and Skyridge middle schools beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 3:45 p.m.The district will work with community leaders, families and staff over the next several months to figure out the logistics of the plan, Snell said Monday.​ (11/30/17)

Edmonds School DistrictLooking at several different new schedules, including some that delay high school bell times based on recommendations from health care leaders. (1/31/17)

Evergreen School DistrictEvergreen Public Schools will push high school start times back later in the morning beginning in the fall of 2016. Citing studies about teenage sleep patterns and improved academic performance, plus requests from parents, the district will have high school students start about an hour later than the current time. Elementary and middle school start times will shift only slightly. (2/22/16)

Greene CountyDistrict is exploring the possibility of later start times for middle and high school students, and officials want the community's input.(12/15/16)

HighlineSurveying community to see if they should push back bell times to meet AAP Recommendations. (4/18/16)

IssaquahStart School Later chapter and petition. Beginning with the start of school next fall, high schools will start at 8:00 a.m., middle schools at 8:10 a.m. and elementary schools at 9:10 a.m. These times may be slightly adjusted to accommodate transportation needs, but no school will start earlier than 8:00 a.m. or end later than 4:00 p.m. (11/10/16)

Mercer IslandJoint High School Start-Time Committee formed in Dec 2014 between Bellevue School District & Mercer Island School District exploring possible implications of changing start times. Recommendations are tp be submitted to the superintendents no later than June 30, 2015. (3/16/15)

Northshore School DistrictAfter many years of effort and advocacy by Parent Advocates for Later Start Times (PALS), the school board voted to shift all school 25 minutes later starting in the fall of 2017 (11/25/16)

SeattleChanged to later middle and high school start times in 2016-17 school year. In 2017 considering plan to extend school day by 20 minutes, adding 10 minutes to the beginning and end of the day. (6/7/17)

Snoqualmie Valley School DistrictA School Start Times Advisory Committee is studying later secondary school start times for possible implementation in the 2018-19 school year. (11/17/17)

SpokaneSpokane Public Schools’ board of directors voted unanimously to move elementary school start times earlier to 8:30am and push back middle school start times to 9 am. The schedule change is the result of the district’s decision to extend K-6 students’ school day by 30 minutes and will have no impact on the high school starting time of 8am. (3/12/15)

West Virginia

Monongalia CountySchool officials are exploring the idea of starting school later for high school students. (1/26/15)

MadisonAdministrators are considering pushing the start time almost two hours later to 9:15 a.m. but no sooner than the 2018-19 school year. (6/8/17) The district is also weighing multiple scenarios that could affect start times for 12 ‘early-start’ elementary schools and 10 of the 12 middle schools (which start at 7:35 a.m.). They are examining start times for both levels between 8 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. The possibilities also include transitioning middle schoolers from Madison Metro Transit buses to yellow school bus services. (10/3/17)

OshkoshAfter moving high school start times later, and elementary schools earlier, to SAVE bus costs, the community wants to change times again just two years later (1/29/15)

Connect With Us!

Website design made possible with a grant from the Rubinstein Family Foundation.

For Citations: A page on our website should be referenced as such:Start School Later. (2017). Webpage Title. Retrieved [Month Day Year] from [URL]e.g.,Start School Later. (2017). What's the Big Deal? Retrieved March 3, 2017 from http://www.startschoollater.net/whats-the-big-deal.html

Start School Later, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to healthy, safe, equitable school hours. ​Start School Later®, StartSchoolLater.net, and the Start School Later logo are trademarks of Start School Later, Inc.